Kaleidoscope Dream

  • The kaleidoscope panels are installed together so passersby can appreciate the interconnectedness of each image.
  • The apprentice team engages in critical inquiry as they research Brooklyn Navy Yard history and the surrounding community.
  • Then the students set to work developing images to embody their research and discussions.
  • Once the artists have developed some imagery, they collaborate to merge their ideas into a one cohesive vision.
  • Groundswell apprentices and conmmunity stakeholders gather to celebrate the new mural installation on BLDG 92.
  • This kaleidoscope image honors the hands at work manufacturing and fabricating the structures and artifacts of our daily lives.

Project Description

“Kaleidoscope Dream” is a series of eight murals that honor the new industries and accompanying workforce that have revitalized the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including film, green manufacturing, farming, fashion, fine art, and small business.  The group researched the unique history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and its current state of development. They engaged in critical dialogue about their own perceptions, fears, and hopes surrounding the topic of work and labor.  As youth preparing to enter the workforce and higher education, the team recognized the importance of these conversations and was determined to make this discourse more accessible to young people. The apprentices utilized their newfound understanding of the neighborhood's history to tackle issues such as the relationship of race and class to today’s work and economy and, in particular, the gentrification and de-industrialization of Brooklyn. Inspired by their research and dialogue, the team then developed imagery to celebrate the interconnectedness of work and industry and the positive renewal of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The mural imitates the movement of a kaleidoscope so that the symbols in one image are found in the next one, representing different stakeholders merging and supporting each other to create a dynamic and interdependent community.

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Project Info

Fun Facts

Quote
The youth agreed that one of the best things about this project was the high level of teamwork. One youth said, “When we saw someone that needed help, we could go to each other instead of the lead artists.” - Youth Artist
Question about the Mural
Can you tell what industries are represented in these murals? How do these, or other industries, relate to your own life?
Research
The Brooklyn Navy Yard was an industrial plant until closing in 1966. In 1969, the area was opened as an industrial park and in 1981, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation made efforts to diversify the types of industries at work in the area.